1 Corinthians 10:13, No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Sometimes the pressures of life and circumstances can feel overwhelming. It can seem like no one has faced the pressure and temptation that you are facing. You cannot see a way through.
There are three things you must know:
1. There are no "exclusive" temptations. Other believers have faced the same "common" temptation. Do not believe that you are alone or that no one understands what you are going through.
2. God is faithful and wise. "Don't panic, it's just a test!" Because He created you, saved you, and has a plan for your life, your temptation is a test that will help you discover greater grace and ability in yourself. No athlete can become better without being pushed and tested by training.
3. God provides a way of escape. The Greek word used for "escape" means "a way out" or a "mountain pass." It carries the idea of an army apparently surrounded and then suddenly seeing an escape route to safety. No temptation has to result in sinning because God's process teaches us how to look for the "escape route" that He provides. Your escape route might be praise, or special prayer, or godly counsel, or changing how we think, or another route. The escape route is never found in complaining, pouting, or caving in to the temptation to sin or take ungodly actions.
You can make it! Thank God for His goodness and grace!
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Regardless of the difficulty, dis-ease, or challenge you may be facing, know that God, the Mighty One, is "in the midst" or in the middle of you and your situation. He doesn't have to come in from a distant place. Whatever noise or disturbance is being caused by the challenge you face, let His love "quiet you."
Proverbs 18:13 (NLT), Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.
Psalm 19:13, Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me.
We all make mistakes. This is human nature, even for believers who serve Christ and live close to Him.
It is a mistake to say you did something on Monday, when you intended to say it happened on Tuesday. We make mistakes in transposing numbers while writing them down. We have all given out the wrong Scripture reference on occasion.
However, some things that we do are not mistakes.
As Proverbs 18:13 states, coming to a conclusion and "spouting off" before inquiring and listening to facts is both a shame and foolish. For this, there is no excuse and it is not a mistake. According to Psalm 19:13, it is a "presumptuous" sin.
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible describes presumptuous sin as: "Sins committed not through frailty or surprise, but those which are the offspring of thought, purpose, and deliberation. Sins against judgment, light, and conscience."
I can write passionately about this topic because I have been guilty of this sin. Presumption is especially seductive because it is self-deluding, self-contented, and comfortable in its error—until exposed to the light of truth and knowledge. This light does not come from within, where the presumption dwells, it comes from without by the help of the Holy Spirit and from friends, disciples or leaders in Christ who come to our aid.
I've sat among fellow broken people who were years late in recognizing their presumptuous sins, have unnecessarily carried error, held wrong judgments against others, and lived under the dominion of their presumptuous sins.
Take my word for it: You don't know what you don't know. Get the facts, talk to people you should talk to—and not others— and avoid this shame and foolishness.
While reviewing some leadership materials from my library, I re-discovered the following list of affirmations by Dr. Myles Munroe. As a statement of our present practice, this list is a little intimidating. However, as a statement of our personal expectation, it is encouraging. Enjoy!
1. I possess a deep guiding purpose
2. I have a clear vision
3. I love to serve others
4. I have established specific goals
5. I cultivate my spiritual reserves
6. I am teachable
7. I am constantly refining my skills
8. I am tolerant
9. I am honest and sincere with integrity
10. I communicate my vision
11. I am an avid reader
12. I maximize time
13. I am enthusiastic toward life
14. I believe in the worth and value of others
15. I keep myself in the best condition possible
16. I embrace responsibility carefully
17. I am daring
18. I am decisive
19. I am result oriented
20. I am committed to excellence
21. I learn from my mistakes
22. I measure myself against myself
[From Myles Munroe, Becoming a Leader: Everyone Can Do It-Workbook (Bakersfield, CA: Pneuma Life Publishing, 1993), p. 59.]
We never trust God in vain. He always lifts you up. | Romans 10:11, As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame." (cp. Isa. 28:16)
